PADDY JOINS SEAMUS FOR TOWCESTER TILT

Ian Fortune

We were caught a little off guard on Friday evening when the name of Fast Fit Paddy appeared on the results sheet from Towcester’s Friday evening trial session.

The brilliant Shelbourne 600 winner hadn’t appeared on the original trial sheet due to a hold up in paperwork but, when the necessary papers came through, he was allowed to have a spin over 500m.

The reason for the hold up is due to the act that he has changed kennels for his Derby tilt and is now under the care of Seamus Gaughan. Moving well throughout off a 4.18 sectional, he posted a perfectly satisfactory 29.55.

Said Declan McDonagh, who has trained him so expertly to this point in his career, of the decision “A Derby challenge couldn’t just work for me. I have my own work commitments and I really couldn’t commit.

“It’s a shame but when you consider it’s a three and a half hour to Dublin from here alone, imagine how long it would take to get to Towcester. It would mean a full day travelling over and the same on the way back.  

“Instead, he’s with Seamus. He’s delighted with him and said he settled in great. He did a good first trial at Towcester and hopefully it all works out. The plan is he will come back to us after the competition and the Champion Stakes and [Irish] Derby are the long term aim.”